House of Blood and Beasts

50. The First Two Steps

    "Are you sure this is going to work?" Flynn hissed, trailing Ruhn into the streets of the Meat Market. Cassia walked between the two of them, her brown eyes crackling with rage. She was bound and gagged, which attracted numerous stares as they walked.

    "I'm sure of nothing," Ruhn replied. "But it's our best shot, and it's more likely to attract the Viper Queen's attention, short of offering ourselves as gladiators."

    Cassia's eyes widened in horror. Flynn smirked, catching sight of her expression. "Relax, Wolfie. You're about to become a celebrity down here."

    Cassia growled something that was muffled by her gag. Ruhn didn't bother removing it and asking her to repeat herself. They kept walking, following Salem's instructions to reach the Viper Queen's underground gladiator pits. It wasn't long before they found one of the many entrances.

    Ruhn led the way down a flight of grimy stone stairs. There were several rust colored streaks on them, which he didn't bother to investigate. He knew the look of dried blood well enough. Flynn, however, was studying every inch of their surroundings.

    "It seems a bit quiet for a gladiator pit," Flynn remarked.

    "Salem said most of the fights take place after dark. There will only be practices right now," Ruhn answered.

    "Then how do you know we'll find the Viper Queen down here?"

    "We won't."

    Ahead, the corridor opened up into a grand veranda, stretching around a massive underground cavern. There were several levels above and below them, and at the bottom of the cavern was a sandy fighting ring. Gladiators were already training. The dull thud of wooden weapons reached Ruhn's ears.

    If things were going according to plan, Salem was close to locating his mysterious friend. They only had a limited time to work with now. Ruhn watched the gladiators for a moment before continuing on his way.

    "Hey, what are you doing up here?" A guard hollered. Ruhn paused as he came sprinting down the veranda. "No one is supposed to be here during daylight hours."

    "Apologies," Ruhn said. "But I had some business to attend to before tonight's fights."

    "Oh really?" The guard crossed his arms, arching a brow. "And what business might that be?"

    "A new entry." Ruhn gestured to Cassia. "And a Wolf in exchange."

    The guard eyed all three of them skeptically. "You're referring to the Viper's Wolf, I imagine. Which are you interested in? The male or female? And before you ask, no, they don't come as a package deal."

    "Male," Ruhn replied. "I've got a use for his skills." He and Flynn shared a look.

    "Hm. If this is about that little doll of yours, you'd best be on your way," the guard scoffed. "The Vipe doesn't care about any of those dead welps. If she did, she'd have put Salem and Amunet on the case already."

    Anger burned through him at the insults, but Ruhn attempted to push it aside. Amunet, he thought, making a mental note of the name. That had to be whomever Salem was interested in rescuing.

    "Regardless of my intentions with the Wolf, I've brought a second one who is just as powerful and capable as the first. She'll make things interesting for the Viper Queen." Ruhn grabbed Cassia's arm and jerked her forward. She glared at him, though he ignored her.

    "Well, well, well. You are the last person I'd expect to bargain with a person's life," an oily, yet melodic voice said behind him.

    Ruhn turned and found himself staring into the Viper Queen's green eyes, marbled by veins of jade and gold. Her slitted pupils narrowed and her mouth stretched into a cunning smile, revealing thin elongated canines, reminiscent of a serpent's fangs.